Key compact



. 1,621,831 March 22 1927' H. M. coLvlN KEY COMPACT Filed May 22. 1926P-Tigl- @MMIII/4f /f M.

7 T E T T INI/EN TOR.

`Ham IVI Colvin 'Patented Mar. 2z 1927.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KEY contraer.

Application illed May 22, 1926. Serial ilo. 110,942.

This invention relates to a carrying case for keys, o'r the like, andhas for its primary object the provision of what is preferably termed Iakey compact constructed with a rigd'case within which may be housedsuitable lneansfor supporting a 'large number of keys in their vpropeiposition and relation to each other,

One of the primary objects of my invention is the contemplation of a keycompact which will hold the keys firmly in position to preclude the samefrom becoming disarranged or rattling when the compact is closed andcarried in the purse or pocket.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide novel meanswhich may be adjusted Jfor holding each,v or all of the keys, in theirproper position within the ke compact.

the course of the detailed specifications referring to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure 1 is a face view of a key compact made in accordance with myinventionand showing one side thereof in an opened position.

`Fig. 2 is ,a vertical cross-section of the compact taken on line 11'-11of Fig. 1 with the compact in the closed position.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section of the compact taken on line111-111 of Fig. 2.

Fi 4.is a top edge view of the com act l 'showing the attachment of theseveral eycarr ing hooks, and,

Fig. 5is an enlarged perspective view of one of the key retaining clipsentirely removed rom the compact. l

Similar reference characters refer to like arts throughout 'the severalviewsand the numerals 6 and 7l designatethe back and back alon cover,respectively, of the compact case, the coverv being hingedly secured tothe oneside as at 8v and adapted to be locked 1n the closed position bythe wellknownlatch members 9 and 10, respectively. The case of thecomfpact maybe pressed or otherwise .formed o sheet metal so that itpresents a rigid or non-collapsible housin for. the keys to be carried.

t is well known that key containers, pouches, etc. per 't the keys tobunch, overylap and become entangled as the vsanal 1s Women nd itdiflicult to-V eing carried.

rocure a neat key carrying case and it-has been found extremelydesirable to make this com act from German silver or cheap metals w ichmay be coated or plated with a precious or semi-precious'metal. Withinthe hollow casing of the compact is carried the means, made inaccordance with this invention, for retaining the key 12 in its properposition with respect to other keys carried in the compact therewith. Toproperly hold the keys so that they may be turned out away from theback' 6, a plu-` rality of hooks 13 are provided, each'having means 14at their upper end for engagmg a vshort pintle 15J, formed integrallywith the upper edge of back 6 in the manner sho-wn in Fig. 4. Thismethod is properly carried out by cutting away a small portion on each`side of the pintle to permit the attaching means 14 to freely engage thesame. The

' hooks 13 .are of the ordinary spring 'type any minor objects willappear during and key 12 may be slipped on in the wellknown manner.

.As an embodiment of one of the main fea y tures of my invention, themeans for holding or retaining a key or keys, 12 in their properposition, has been illustrated herein to be a Spring plate 16 rigidlysecured by rivets oranalogous mean to the back 6 of the compact. Thisspring (plate 16 has a plurality of slots 18 forme `therein which extenddownwardly from the upper or ree end thereof to a point spaced from thelower, or

attached edge. Thesemany slots 18 are Karallel and are formed atintervals throng out the entire length of plate 16 and each are adaptedto receive a spring clip 19 which is provided with ar .Eoot 2() to slidebehind spring plate 16 whereby it is held against the inner surface ofthe back, 6. This foot 20 may extend on each side of the main portion,

of the clip 19 as shown in Fig. 5, and aids to securely hold the upperor key engaging jaw 21 thereof in the pro er position. I't is preferredto use two of t ese clips with each key and through the use of manyslots 18 their distance apart may be varied according` to the thicknessor width of the particular lkey to be hung on the hook 13 thereabove..Clips v 19 are removable and may 'be inserted in any slot 18 along thelength of plate 16. The same .will not rattleQor become noisy when notin use because foot 17 -ho1ds them securely in position againstmovement.

It is understood that the specific embodiment of my invention may bevaried considerably from. the terms of this specification and that manymodifications may be made;

i Without departing from they spirit of the insaid plurality of hooks.

p key carried by said vention or scope of the appen ed claims.

What I claim and desire to;secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis: I

l. A key compact of the class described comprising a back and covermember hingedly attached along one side to form a hollow casing, aplurality of key carrying hooks pivotally carried by said back memberalong its upper edge, a slotted plate carried Within said casing ,andadjustable clips carried by said plate for engaging each key carried by2. In a key compact of theclass'described having a plurality ofpivotally mounted key carrying hooks and a means for securing each hooksin its proper rela'- tive position including a slotted resilient plateand a plurality of clips carried by said plate adapted to grip the sides,of each key.

In a key compact of the class described having a plurality of pivotallymounted key carrying hooks and means for securing eac key carried by,said hooks in its proper relative position including a slotted resilientplate and a plurality of clips adapted to releasably eng-age the keysVcarried by said hooks, said clips being removably mounted in the slotsformed in the resilient plate.

4. In a key compact of the class described, a slotted resilient plateand k engaging clips lcarried in the slots of said plate, each cliphaving a foot portion engaged by said plate along each side of itsrespective carrying slot.

5. In a key compact of the character described, means for carrying a keyto permit movelnent from the housed to the unhoused position including aswingable hook supported adjacent the edge of the compact and means forsecuring the key against movement including a pair of resilient clipsremovably mounted on the wall ofv said compact below said hook andadjacent the free end of the key supported by said hook.

In testimony Whereof I hereunto aiix my signature.

HENRY M. COLVIN.

